Ausland Selected for the Historic Restoration of the Oregon Caves Château

Local commercial design and construction firm, Ausland Group, has been selected by The National Park Service to deliver an extensive historic restoration to the Château at Oregon Caves National Monument, one of the National Parks Great Lodges and a National Historic Landmark.

Awarded on Friday, March 13^th, prework and planning for the project are underway.  The renovation will include fire suppression enhancements, seismic retrofitting, ADA upgrades, and the rebuilding of balconies while retaining the historic integrity of the building. Approximately 450 tradespeople throughout the region will be involved with this project.  President of Ausland Group and Grants Pass local, Kelsy Ausland, P.E., notes,

 “We consider this project not only a win for Ausland, but for our entire community. We are excited for our local employees to have the opportunity to work together on such a monumental undertaking in our community.”

As a family business, founded in Grants Pass, with a 70-year history of delivering complex and technically challenging projects to public and private clients throughout the State, Ausland was the obvious local choice for this iconic project. Passionate about historic places and the special connections they create to the past, the team brings a particular affinity toward historic renovations and restoration projects, having performed such notable projects as the Wallowa County Courthouse Restoration, the Wolf Creek Inn and Tavern Restoration, and the Holmes Park House Restoration for Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, among others. In addition, Ausland has established a niche of going where other contractors wont, bringing strong experience on projects with remote access, challenged by terrain, labor and communication obstacles. Ausland’s depth and breadth of experience will be critical to preserving this historic landmark for years to come.

Built in 1934 and located deep within Southern Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountains, the six-story Château sits adjacent to the entrance of the only active limestone formation in Oregon and attracts visitors from all over the world. Designed and built by self-taught architect and contractor Gust Lium, the building is considered an architectural masterpiece, built into a marble canyon over a steep ravine, emphasizing the natural environment through the use of local materials, including the signature Port Orford cedar siding and stone pulled from the hillside for the fireplace. Greg Ausland, P.E., principal at Ausland Group and recipient of several awards for managing some of the most culturally significant renovation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest remarks,

 “The Chateau is a magnificent jewel, existing almost as if the six stories grew from a ravine as the result of the sprinkling of ‘chateau seeds’. The fact that Ausland gets to be the construction stewards to bring this iconic structure back to a polished and rehabilitated state is extremely meaningful and exciting for us.”

The project timeline is evolving due to a slight delay in award, however currently, completion is slated for 2021.